ASU Sun Devils Seek to Break Washington Huskies Jinx in L.A. Tonight

The ASU men's basketball team has one last chance at 6 p.m. tonight to beat one of the Washington schools this season, when they meet the Washington Huskies in semi-final action at the Pac-10 basketball tournament here in L.A. The Sun Devils are fresh from completing a trifecta of victories...

By Paul Rubin

March 13, 2009

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The ASU men's basketball team has one last chance at 6 p.m. tonight to beat one of the Washington schools this season, when they meet the Washington Huskies in semi-final action at the Pac-10 basketball tournament here in L.A.

The Sun Devils are fresh from completing a trifecta of victories over once-dominant Arizona, and beating UW after a pair of regular season losses, first in Tempe and then an overtime loss in Seattle a few weeks ago. Washington won the conference championship, and this tournament game -- while sure to be hotly contested -- is more of an exercise for seeding purposes at the upcoming Big Dance than anything else.

What became ever more apparent during Thursday afternoon's game against the Wildcats is that ASU's James Harden is most decidedly the real deal, as is UA's big man Jordan Hill. By which we mean, a bona fide bigtime NBA prospect.

As for Arizona's Chase Budinger, who once was dubbed a potential lottery pick, ain't gonna happen for him unless he has a heart transplant -- as in finding one. Lack of passion on the court translates to lost potential in the bigs, whatever sport you're playing

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